Simpson Thacher & Bartlett announced that Joanne (Jo) Mak will join the firm as a partner in the London office, where she will focus on secondaries transactions. Jo represents clients on various transactions in the private funds secondaries market, including single-asset continuation funds, multi-asset continuation funds, portfolio sales, structured secondaries, synthetic secondaries, stapled secondary offerings, preferred equity, and other fund recapitalizations. And her practice also incorporates advising private funds in connection with a range of transactional matters, including direct co-investments. Jo joins from Kirkland & Ellis, where she was a partner.
Simpson Thacher advises on the full suite of secondaries transactions covering various asset classes, as well as complex control and minority-stakes transactions involving alternative asset managers and preferred and structured financings for funds, their management companies, and other industry participants. And the team offers deep market knowledge and creative, tailored advice on fund-related transactions, including traditional and synthetic secondary transactions, structured fund products, continuation vehicles, and other liquidity solutions.
KEY QUOTES:
“We have a market-leading secondaries practice, and Jo’s skills and depth of experience will further enhance our capabilities at the forefront of this market. Jo’s talent and creativity in advising sponsors and investors on complex liquidity solutions will solidify our position as the advisor of choice for complex and high-value secondaries transactions.”
Gareth Earl, Head of the European Funds Practice at Simpson Thacher
“The addition of Jo demonstrates the latest step in expanding our European complex fund solutions platform. Working alongside secondaries Partners Ed Ford and Sacha Gofton-Salmond, we’re confident that she will further augment our capacity to provide sponsors and investors with creative solutions in a constantly evolving market. We welcome Jo to the firm.”
Wheatly MacNamara, London Managing Partner at Simpson Thacher
